WATER BAPTISM & BABY DEDICATION
We often get questions from parents as to whether we have water baptisms or baby dedication services. It is our practice to dedicate infants, or young children, who are not able to make their own profession of faith yet.
During the dedication service, parents will make a pledge to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. They commit to be godly examples and share with their children the Good News of Jesus Christ. According to Proverbs 22:6, we should "train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Training your child implies work, discipline, constancy and, most importantly, love.
As part of the dedication service, the minister will pray over the parents and the children. The church congregation, family, and friends are invited to witness and support the parents' pledge. Abundant Life Family Church would like to assist you in your commitment by sharing the Word of God with you, praying for your family, and connecting you with other believers that will encourage you through every stage of parenting.
Water Baptism
We hold water baptism services for those of any age that would like to make a public confession of their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Believers will be water baptized by immersion.
Water baptism is not only significant to the person being baptized, but it also testifies to others of what happened when he accepted Jesus as his Savior. It confirms and strengthens the believer's commitment to live a godly life. Water baptism is symbolic of having been crucified with Christ, buried with Him, and raised together with Him to walk in newness of life (Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:4-6).
The significance of water baptism is clear when you understand the meaning of the original Greek verb baptidzo. It means "to immerse." Immersion is a picture of burial. So, though some churches sprinkle or pour water in the baptismal ceremony, it is when a believer is completely submerged and then raised up out of the water that the significance is more clearly understood. When we become born again, we are made a new creation in Christ. The old man is dead and buried. A new man is raised up out of the grave, reborn to live a new life by the power of the Holy Spirit!
This is important. Without first making Jesus Lord and believing that God raised Him from the dead, water baptism would have no purpose. Water baptism is not the baptism that saves. What cleanses us from sin is not the water but the precious blood that Jesus shed on the cross (see Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:22; Revelation 1:5). If you feel you've never properly buried your old, sinful nature and dedicated your whole self to the Lord, don't wait any longer — confess Jesus as your Lord and then participate in water baptism, testifying that Jesus set you free!
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Baby Dedications and Water Baptisms are held for those who regularly attend Abundant Life Family Church. Please contact us here if you would like to schedule a dedication or water baptism.
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Resources References/Additional Information:
http://www.kcm.org/read/questions/whats-the-deal-water-baptism
http://www.kcm.org/read/questions/must-i-be-water-baptized-go-heaven
http://www.kcm.org/read/questions/does-the-new-testament-teach-more-one-baptism